


A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 



— OF — 



COL. NOAH E. SMITH. : 

^HiiiiiiiiiiiiiSiliiiiiliiiiiiiilSili 



GEN. SCOTT'S GUIDE IN 
MEXICO. 



A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 



COL. NOAH E. SMITH. 



BY MARTIN A. HAYNES. 



LAKE VILLAGE, N. H.: 
REPRINT FROM "LAKE VILLAGE TIMES." 

1887. 






LOCKE & GOULD, 
PUBLISHERS 

LAKE VILLAGE TIMES, 

PRINTERS. 






BIOGRAPHY. 



A few weeks ago there died in the 
vilhige of Laeonia a man with a history. 
It was he of whom Major Gaines spoke 
in a speech made in Boston in 1848 : "I 
have been to New Hampshire. I went 
there on a pilgrimage. I went there to 
l)ay my respects and pour out my grat- 
itude to a New Hampshire man, whom I 
met in Mexico, or rather who met me; 
wlio visited me in my dungeon ; who 
found me 'naked and he clothed me, 
sick and in prison, and he ministered 
unto me.' I went there to render him 
my gratitude for kindness done me in a 
far-distant land." The man thus pictur- 
ed was Noah E. Smith. To him the 
opportunity came to render extraord- 
inary service to his country — services 
the importance of which were appre- 
ciated probably by but few of those 
among whom he spent the later and un- 
eventful years of his life. For several 
years the writer of this was almost daily 
associated with this grand old gentleman. 
Our conversation often recuri-ed to his 
experiences in Mexico, and this sketch 
is drawn from copious memoranda made 
at those times with a view of preserving 
a record too valuable and interesting to 
be lost — a record which fairly entitles 
Noah E. Smith to be ranked among 
New Hampshire's notable sons. 

BIRTH AND EARLY LIFE. 

Noah E. Smith was born in Meredith 
in 1808. His grandparents were among 



the earliest settlers of the town, riding 
on horseback from Exeter to their new- 
home ; the wife upon a pillion, in the 
fashion of the day, and bearing in her 
arms an infant. Among the household 
goods and belongings was apuppy which 
in that long journey found comfortable 
conveyance in the capacious pocket of 
the worthy matron. The couple located 
upon land at the iiead of Hound Bay, 
near the j^resent Lake Village Here 
Noah's father was born, and being the 
hrst male child born in Meiedith, the 
town gave him 100 acres of land — the 
tract now knou n as the "Iladley place," 
on the west shore of Long Bay. 

When Noah was ten years old his 
parents removed to Gilmanton. Here 
he remained until of age, cast his maiden 
vote for Andrew Jackson at the hitter's 
second election to the presidency, then 
marched away from the paternal roof, 
seeking his fortune. 

GOES TO MEXICO. 

He went to New York city, where a 
company was bemg organized to operate 
a stage line from Vei-a Cruz, upon the 
coast, to the city of Mexico. Led by a 
spirit of adventure, young Smith joined 
the enterprise, and as an employe of the 
company was sent to Mexico. This 
stage line was a Yankee innovation up- 
on the old established order of things, 
and had to meet the bitter prejudice of 
the ignorant natives, who at first stoned 
and otherwise assaulted the "foreign 
devils" and compelled the employment 
of a guard. 

Tne company took out Troy coaches 
and a complement of horses from the 
States. Native horses were subsequent- 
ly broken to harness, till then an almost 



unheard of tiling in Mexico, where mules 
alone had been used in that manner. 
The company tii'st opened the line from 
the city of Mexict> to Puebla, a distance 
of 80 miles, advertising to make the 
run in twelve hours. Native prejudice 
had to be overcome before native custom 
could be secured. With their mule 
teams, this had been a three days trip, 
and Mexicans thought it absolutely im- 
possible to make the time advertised. 
But the Yankees accomplished tiie feat. 
With good Ji?iesse they hired friars and 
clergymen to ride in the coaches, taking 
care that ihey were made happy and 
comfortable by the best suppers to be 
procured on the route, and soon the 
prejudices of the Mexicans vanished, 
and the line became an assured success. 
It was then extended to Vera Cruz, a 
distance of ;300 miles from the city of 
Mexico, and other routes were opened 
up extending from the city in various 
directions, until the company had in 
operation over lUOU miles of line, the 
most with daily stages, and employing 
li!UO horses. The drivers were all im- 
ported Yankees, for however expert 
Mexicans might be in the saddle, driving 
was as much out of their line as if they 
had never seen a horse. 

In all these operations Smitli's energy 
and judgment were so marked that he 
was soon appointed general superin- 
tendent of tlie lines and executive 
officer of the company upon the spot. 

SANTA anna's INAUGURATION. 

Soon after this appointment he made 
his first aquaintance with Santa Anna. 
Tliat great chief was about to be in- 
augurated as President of the Republic 
for his lirst term, and in arranging for 
the parade, officials were sent to the 



company's oflQ.ce to inquire if they could 
furnish a driver who could safely handle 
four horses upon the government 
carriage, with reins and without out- 
riders. Smith assured them he could 
send a man who would drive six horses 
if they wished them. Although they 
thought this was impossible, he over- 
came their fears by assurances that it 
would be all right, and they contracted 
for the horses and driver, the price to be 
$300. Inauguration day came, but 
Smith's six-horse driver did not. He 
was delayed by some trouble with 
l)andits down the line, and Smith, as 
the best substitute, determined to take 
the reins himself. A general's full uni- 
form was sent down for the driver, and 
he mounted the box in glittering attire — 
cocked hat, epaulettes, sword, and all 
the "fixings." Driving to the palace 
under escort of a squad of cavalry, 
when arrived there two full generals 
appeared and took their positions as 
footmen. Then came Santa Anna, 
greeted with martial music and the roar 
of cannon, and was driven to the cathe- 
dral to hear mass. On the return to the 
palace, the driver heard an occasional 
i-emark about about the -'heretic devil,' 
but Santa Anna was so well pleased 
with the performance that he sent $100 
as a present, and after that used often 
to send for his "Yankee friend" to 
drive him out. 

After operating about three years, the 
stage line was sold to a company of 
Mexicans, and Smith was intending to 
return home. Ikit meanwhile a company 
was being formed in New York to 
operate another line, of which Wm. S. 
Parrott, American Consul at the city of 
Mexico, was president, and Smith was 



induced by Parrott to remain as director 
of tile new line. Tliere was 'a lively 
rivalry between the two companies. In 
eleven months the new Ime sank $90,- 
000, and the old one $120,000, and then 
the old company struck its colors and 
sold out to the new comers. 

ENTERS BUSINESS FOR HIMSELF. 

After directing the new line for 
several years. Smith decided to go into 
business for himself. He hired the 
lower part of the monastery of St. 
Augustine, the friars still continuing to 
occupy the upper story. The monastery 
was an immense building, occupying an 
entire squai-e of the city, and built, in 
the Spanish style, around an interior 
court or garden, ornamented with trees, 
fountains and various decorative de- 
vices. The ground floor was turned in- 
to a stable, and Smith at once entered 
into an extensive and lucrative business 
in buying and selling horses and mules. 
Stock raisers in the interior brought in 
their animals, which he bought by 
droves, selling in turn to planters from 
the south. Great numbers were con- 
signed to him to prevent their seizure 
by the government for army use. He 
also dealt in American horses, of which 
he imported four or five cargoes a year. 
These being larger and finer than the 
Mexican animals, were generally bouo-ht 
by the aristocracy, and pairs were often 
sold at from $2,000 to $8,000. His 
"exhibitions" after the arrival of each 
cargo were attended by elite of the 
country, even women and children com- 
ing in their carriages ; and at all times 
his office elegantly furnished, and 
adorned with fine paintings of appropri 
ate subjects, was a popular resort for 
wealthy and aristocratic lovers of horse 



8 



flesh. Here, among other notable men, 
he often met Bankhead, the British 
Minister, an acquaintance of great 
service when he was, subsequently, 
obliged to conceal himself from the 
Mexican authorities. 

Smith also had extensive dealings 
with the Mexican government, and 
supplied it with many horses for the 
army. A considerable portion of the 
cavalry sent to meet Gen. Taylor on the 
Rio Grande were mounted from his 
stables. And notwithstanding that ar- 
bitrary exercises of power and disregard 
for individual rights was the rule with 
the military despotism that prevailed, 
only once did he have serious trouble 
with the authorities. That was at the 
time of the Texan war for independence, 
when an effort was made to get 
possession of his stables, under the plea 
that they were wanted for cavalry bar- 
racks. Gen. Esnorisa, the Mexican 
Adjutant General, notified him to vacate, 
but the intervention of Powhattan Ellis, 
the American Minister, secured a sus- 
pension of the order and the diplomatic 
assurance that it was all a mistake. 

THE OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES 

Between Mexico and the United States 
found Smith an old resident of the 
country. Not only had he become 
prominent in business, but he had estab- 
lished intimate social relations with the 
people among whom he dwelt. He had 
married, and had children and a happy 
home. He had an extensive acquaint- 
ance, and was on the most friendly 
terms with those high in authority . So 
it happened that probably no American 
met less of the popular hatred for "Los 
Gringos" incident to those days of war 
and war's alarms. He felt his position 



was one of extreme delicacy, but with 
his great property interests at stake he 
could only watch closely the course of 
events and endeavor to meet emergencies 
as they might arise. Hostilities com- 
menced upon the Rio Grande, but still 
Smith was unmolested. He had no call 
to make an obtrusive display of sympathy 
for his own countrymen in the war which 
had commenced. 

BEFKIENDS THE ENCAKNACION PKIS- 

ONEKS. 

But at length occurred an event which, 
with a man of his stamp, would no 
longer permit the wearing of a mask of 
indifference, and he moved with his ac- 
customed energy, regardless of con- 
sequences to himself. This was the 
arrival of Waj. Gaines and other oliicers 
of Gen. Taylor's army taken at Encar- 
nacion, as prisoners of war. 

At two o'clock one morning Smith's 
foreman brought to him at his summer 
house ill Tacubaya — two miles out from 
the city — the intelligence that seven 
officers, prisoners from Taylor's army, 
had just arrived and were quartered in 
a certain prison. Smith at once mounted 
his horse and rode into the city. He 
sought the officer of tlie guard, and 
learning from him that the report was 
true, asked to see the prisoners. The 
officer at tirst refused to admit hmi with- 
out an order from the commanding 
general ; but his military scruples melted 
at the sight of a geld coin, backed by a 
guarantee that no trouble should come 
from his courtesy. The visitor was 
directed to a certain door, which he un- 
locked and threw open. There, upon 
the brick floor of that lilthy hole, with 
no bedding except a single blanket, lay 



10 



the American pi'isoners. A "good morn- 
ing !" salutation, pronounced in good 
round English. brought them to 
their feet at once, and their visitor pro- 
ceeded to introduce himself. He took 
their names and residences, which he 
promised to send to New Orleans by an 
English courier. Continuing his in- 
quiries, he asked if they had a change 
of clotliing or money, and learned that 
their entire wardrobe lay in the rags up- 
on their backs, and that they were pen- 
niless. He tendered them his services 
and his purse — told them he would not 
only use his intluence to get them par- 
oled. but would send a tailor to make new 
clothes for them — and offered to leave 
money for iheir immediate use in the 
purchase of suitable food. To the sug- 
gestion that the Mexican government 
was obliged to furnish them food, he 
replied that if they knew the Mexican 
government as well as he did they would 
get their meals where they could. How- 
ever, he was at their service ; they could 
in(]uu'e who he was, and let him know 
their decision. 

Tluit afternoon he received a letter 
accepting his proposal. He called upon 
his tailor, who promised to put on his 
whole for(;e and tit the prisoners with 
new clothing inside of 48 hours ; and at 
he same time sent them money for their 
personal expenses. Then he went to 
the palace to see about the paroles. This 
required considerable diplomacy. After 
many Mexican compliments and eva-- 
sions, the commanding general said he 
would release the prisoners on bail ; to 
which Smith replied that the men were 
not criminals and would not give bail — 
they could give their word of honor, and 
that was all soldiers could give. But 



11 



tliL! general was obdurate, ami SniiLli 
was obliged to leave him without having 
made the desired arrangement. His re- 
sourees were not exhausted, however, 
i'oi' he solicited the assistance of the 
British and French INlinisters. These 
olHcials responded with warm interest, 
and went in company to the palace. On 
their return they called at Smith's office 
with a suggestion that he go up again , 
piomising if he could not make satis- 
factory arrangements that they would 
repeat their visit. He went immediately, 
and had no further difficulty in arrang- 
ing the parole. They were simply to 
report twice a week at head(piarters ; 
and after giving the re(juired pledge, 
Smith retui'ned to the prison with the 
order for release in his pocket. The 
prisoners wc'e comfortably quartered, 
Major Gaines being taken to Smith's 
own house, where he remained until the 
latter was expelled from the city. The 
men were prisoners about seven months, 
and Smith loaned them nearly .flUOO. 
After the war they deposited the amount 
loaned, subject to his order, in a Louis- 
ville bank. After Scott got into Mexico 
they had a heavy gold-headed cane man- 
ufactured by a resident English jeweler, 
upon which was the inscription: *' Ken- 
lucky 2)risoncrs of tvar to Noah E. Smith, 
Mexico, 1847" This was carried with 
pride by its recipient in all the later 
years of his life. 

THE (iATH EKING STOKM. 

But the events of the war moved 
rapidly. Scott had landed at Vera Cruz, 
and was marching upon the capital city. 
Then the Mexican government took 
measures for the removal of all Ameri- 
cans. The iirst intimation Smith had 



12 



was when, one morning, he went into 
his office and found it lilled with Mex- 
icans, including many notable and lead- 
ing citizens. From them he learned that 
a proclamation was out expellins: all 
Americans from the city within -iS hours, 
and ordering them to Morelles, about 
300 miles back in the countrj'. The 
people were greatly excited, but sliowed 
their friendship for Smith by oftermg to 
go bail for him if the government would 
accept it. Some offered him refuge in 
their houses, but such offers he declined, 
not wishing to make trouble foi* them 
with the authorities. Both the English 
and French Ministers had invited him to 
take shelter with them in case of 
trouble;, and when the 48 hours had ex- 
pived he was safely secreted at the house 
of the English Minister ; his wife and 
clerk being the only persons who had 
knowledge of his place of refuge. Mean- 
time Count Perez Galviz, one of the 
wtialthiest and most influential Mexicans, 
went to the authorities, and by the 
weight of his influence secured j^er- 
mission for Smith to return and resume 
business. Galviz supposed Smith had 
gone to Morelles, and going to the 
latter's clerk told him to send word for 
the return of the refugee. Then Galviz 
was told Smith could be I'eached easier 
at the British Minister's, and call in 2: 
there he found his friend and handed 
him the order from the Minister of 
Foreign Relations to come back and re- 
sume business. 

"Now." said Galviz, "go back, mount 
your horse, turn your hat up in front 
just as you always did, and ride through 
the streets as usual, and nobody will 
molest you !" The next morning Smith 
rode up to his office, through the 



1^^ 

principal street, and received an ovation, 
the traders and others rushing out to 
greet him. But he was far from being 
easy in his mind, or feeiing secure in 
his position ; so he turned and rode back 
to liis house. There he remained until 
afternoon, when the porter announced 
that an officer wished to see him. It 
was one of Gen. Lombardini's stafF with 
an order to report at tlie Palace imme- 
diat(;ly. The officer was a P^renchman 
in the Mexican service, and evidently 
considered the affair a very serious one. 
To Smith's suggestion that he would be 
around the next morning, the officer re- 
plied that he had better return with him, 
as he had a coach at the door. Me said 
Lombardini was furious at Smith's re- 
turn ; and intimated that if the latter had 
any business to attend to he would wait, 
—in a manner which told Smith it was 
his chance for escape. 

But Smith had no idea of running. 
He had a document of which it was 
evident the general had no knowledge; 
and armed with this, he repaii-ed to the 
Palace In the most pompous manner 
the general inquired if Smith had not 
received his passport for Morelles, and 
receiving an affirmative answer, asked 
him how he had dared to come back. In 
a tantilizing manner Smith replied that 
he supposed the government wantetl him 
to, as they had sent for him to come and 
resume his business, and exhibited his 
order. The general examined it, said 
it was all wrong, and required his 
signature; and when Smith thereupon 
asked him to sign it, replied: "I will 
keep the document, and you can come 
back to-morrow morning at ten o'clock." 
But Smith was not to be caught in that 
trap. Taking the paper from the table, 
he told the general he would keep it, as 



14 



he might be arrested on his way home, 
but would leave a copy ; and he dej^arted 
with his safeguard in his pocket. 

He did not keep the appointment with 
Lombarihni at ten o'clock the next morn- 
ing. Before that hour a proclamation 
was posted ordering all Americans to 
leave the city within twenty-four hours, 
under penalty of arrest without bail. 
As Smith was then the only American 
in the city, he knew who Lombardini 
meant; and realizing the danger of any 
further etibrts to remain he at once re- 
turned to his old (juarters at the English 
Minister's, there to make preparations 
foe leaving the city and joining the 
American army, then at Piiebla 

FJ.EES IN UISGUtSE. 

The story of Smith's escape and of 
his subsequent adventures and services 
cannot be better told than in his own 
woi"ds as given to and carefully noted 
by the writer. 

Once more under shelter of the 
English legation. 1 immediately began 
my pre[)ar;itions for escai)e. I sent for 
an Euiilish servant, Kob., who had been 
with me many years, and instructed him 
to have a boat ready on a canal running 
from the city to Chalco, at eight o'clock 
that evening. He was to have saddle, bri- 
dle, anil arms upon the boat. I also sent 
for a French barber ; and while awaiting 
his arrival, went to the otRce of the 
Secretary of Legation, in the same 
building, and asked hmi for an English 
passport to Puebla. He repli ed that he 
had just used his last blank; but he had 
a passport made tor an Englishman , 
which very closely answered my de- 
scription, and he gave it to me. 

Then the barber came. He cut my 



lo 



hair short, jjut on a nice red wig and a 
moustacho of the same color, and two or 
three spots like moles on my nose and 
face. It was a most artistic job. He 
had been gone but a few minutes when 
tiie English Secretary of Legation (after- 
wards Minister at Washington) came in 
and handed me a package in a large 
envelope, with a seal about the size of a 
Boston cracker, and a ribbon. 'J'his 
was from the Minister, and 1 was direct- 
ed to place it beneath belt and shirt. If 
caught and liable to be shot. I was to 
break the seal and show the contents to 
my captors. Otherwise I was to return 
it to the legation unopened. I also had 
a bundle of dispatches to Gen. Scott, 
which were to be delivered in person 
and immediately upon my arrival. 
These, I afterwards undersUjod, had 
something to do with efforts which were 
being made to negotiate a peace. 

When I was fully arrayed the Sec- 
retary said he would test the virtue of 
my disguise, and called the Minister up- 
on a pretext that an old acquaintance 
wished to see him in relation to a pass- 
port. Bankhead looked at me with no 
sign of recognition. "I have known 
you — have had many pleasant drives 
with you on the pleasure grounds," I 
said. He denied the acquaintance until 
I laughed ; then said: "Is that you. 
Smith? Well, your own mother 
wouldn't know you !" Then he called 
in his wife, who could not recognize me 
until told who I was. She expressed 
the opinion that I would go perfectly 
safe ; and I felt great conlidence in the 
efficacy of my disguise. 

About eight o'clock in the evening I 
started on the canal boat, rowed by two 
Indians, down atross Lake Chalco. The 



16 



whole Mexican army was camped alono^ 
the shore, but we boldly landed and 
went through the camps. I passed 
officers 1 had known for years, but did 
not speak. My servant told such as 
seemed inquisitive that I was an English- 
man, could not speak a word of Si^anish, 
and was going down to work in a large 
cotton factory at the foot of the 
mountains, about live miles away. The 
factory was an English enterprise, but 
the agent was a New Jersey man named 
Robinson. When we arrived at the fac- 
tory, Robinson was sitting at a table in 
the office. Like all the others, he did 
not recognize, me, and when made 
aware of my identity he said : "You are 
perfectly safe, I guess." 

I had liardly made myself known 
when a company of Mexican cavalry 
rode into the yard and 2"ave me a terii- 
ble fright. My first thought was that 
they had tracked me to this spot. Robin- 
son ran me into a back room, and then 
went out to meet the troops. He 
found their errand was in regard to pro- 
curing some cotton cloth, so I was still 
free. 

My point now was to reach a certain 
pass or ravine in the mountains, where I 
liad made arrangements at the English 
legation for joinhig the legation courier 
on his way to the coast. The courier 
always rode with a considerable escort, 
and the phin was for me to join him at a 
designated time and place and proceed 
as one of his party. Robinson soon 
found me an Indian guide, and we 
started through the mountains by by- 
ways and paths, to come out upon the 
main road, through a side ravine, at the 
point agreed upon. Before we came 
upon the road I sent the guide to re- 



connoitre, and he came back with the 
alarmingintelligeiicH that the road was 
full of Mexican cavalry in camp there. 
VVc took the back track, and through 
another ravine came out upon the main 
highway two miles further on. Here 
we dismounted, and, laying down, I put 
my ear to the ground. Soon I heard the 
tramp of horses feet, and remounting. I 
waited. In a few minutes the courier, 
Don Rapliael Sanchez, rode up with his 
escort of a dozen Mexicans. Raphael 
was a Spaniai-d, and rode under Welling- 
ton in the Peninsula war in Spain. Wh°n 
lie saw me he exclaimed: '-My God, 
Smith ! is that you ? My heart has been 
in my mouth since I passed that picket, 
fori thought they had captured and 
slaughtered you there." 

A GUEIULLA FKIEND IN NEED. 

I asked Don Raphael who were of his 
escort, and who in command. He re- 
plied that the chief was Bernardo Colin. 
I knew him— he had worked for me 
some. Once I had secured his release 
from prison, where he was serying 
sentence for highwav robbery. Hi's 
brother— a tine man— had been in my 
employ about ten years. I did not know 
how he would feel towards me, but if 
favorably I had got the best protection 
in the country, with him and his gang of 
guerrillas. I told Don Raphael to feel 
Colin over and learn his sentiments 
towards me. Then I rode on ahead, 
while Raphael, drawing Colin aside from 
his escort, asked him it he had seen me 
lately .f— and would he do me a faror if 
he had a chance ? Colin replied that he 
would serre me with his life, as I had 
once done him a favor no other man 
would. Then Raphael, pointing to me 



18 



as I rode aliead, said : "That is Smith !" 
Colin dashed up, gave me a Mexican 
hug, and said: "Anything I can do for 
you, command me! I owe you favors 
I cannot pay." Then I ex^jlained that I 
was on my way to the American army 
for j)rotection, and he replied: "There 
is only one more Mexican picket on the 
road, and I will pass you through as one 
of my men." This he did, and I was 
outside the Mexican lines, but forty 
miles from Gen. Scott's headquarters. 

Colin's duty as escort ended at the 
next post for changing horses, some 
fifteen miles further on. I made the 
proposition that if he would continue on 
and escort me to the American lines, I 
would pay all the expenses of a change 
of horses, and $100 for his services. He 
consulted with his men. They were a 
little afraid of the Americans, l»ut Colin 
told them he had confidence in me — I 
had put myself in his power, and he was 
not afraid to put himself in mine — he 
was not afraid to go with me anywhere. 
I guaranteed that they should not be 
molested, and that Colin 's name shoukl 
not appear in the matter, and the bargain 
was concluded. 

At the next post, the party was re- 
}nounted, and pushed on for Puebla, 
through the second day and into the 
third night of my journey. We were 
within about a mile of that city, when, 
ascending a little rise, we saw a horse- 
man ahead, in the road, looming u^) 
like a giant in the moonlight. "There," 
said Don Raphael, "is one of your 
Yankees. You answer the challenge !" 
I did so, rode forward alone, and told 
the picket it was the English courier. 
He said he had orders to let him pass. 
"But," I continued, "/am a Yankee and 



19 

a runaway from Mexico, and have an 
■ escort of ten Mexican giierrillas just be- 
hind." He allowed the entire party to 
pass, and told us there were no more 
pickets until we arrived at the walls of 
the city. 

JOINS SCOTT AT PDEBLA. 

We rode on, into the city, and up to 
Die palace. I called the officer of the 
guard, told him I had dispatches for 
Gen. Scott, and wished to deliver them 
immediately. He answered that the 
General had retired and could not be 
disturbed , but I might leave the dis- 
?)atches with him, and he would deliver 
them in the morning. "But." I replied, 
"my dispatches are important, and I 
liave orders from the British Minister to 
deliver them at any hour and in person." 
He still demui-red, but when I told him I 
would thank him for his name, he said : 
"Waita momen^-I will speak to Gen. 
Scott." He did so, and was told to 
show me to the General's room in- 
stantly. 

I found the (;eneral in bed, and 
apologized for disturbing him, when he 
broke in in his impressive style: "My 
God, sir, I am a soldier, and if you had 
not called me you were not worthy of 
the ti-ust imposed upon you." 

A eter chatting a few minutes, I told 
him I did not know but I had committed 
an indiscretion, for I had bribed a 
guerrilla chief and ten men to escort me 
in, and I asked for their protection. He 
replied: "They shall have it, and I 
wish you had brought the whoJe Mex- 
ican army, so as to save me the trouble 
of marching on the city." I delivered 
my dispatches, and after a long con- 
versation, in which I gave him such in- 
formation as I possessed, he apologized 



20 



lor his scanty accuniiuuthitions, said he 
wished he couUl offer me a Ijed, for I 
must be exhausted after iny forty hours 
in the saddle. But the best he had to 
offer was the sofa in the room, which 
was at my disposal ; and wound up with 
a joking admonition to consider m^'self 
under arrest. 

It can be readily understood that I 
slept soundly until the next morning, 
when the servant called me to breakfast, 
saying the General was waiting for me 
I found him and his staff at table. He 
introduced me, and took oiY the arrest, 
saying a man who could stay in the 
saddle as I had did not require a guard. 

After breakfast he asked me to bring 
up my guerrilla chief and give him an 
introduction ; which I did ; and after 
some general conversation — 1 acting as 
interpreter — the General directetl me to 
ask Colin if he would not sta}' with us 
as a spy, he and his men to have eacii 
$150 a month and rations. Colin re- 
plied that he would like the money, and 
would do it if the army was always to 
be there; "-but," he sagely added, 
"when the army leaves, where will I 
be?" 

After paying Colin bis $100, I told 
him if he could wait a few hours I could 
probably get him a couple hundred 
dollars more ; and I collected letter* for 
Mexico from merchants and others, 
with a handsome sum for their delivery . 
I also told him if he would deliver Maj . 
Gaines, then a prisoner in the city, at 
Scott's headquarters, I would pav hint 
$100. He undertook the commission, 
and executed it so well that some days 
after, on entering headquarters, the first 
man to greet me was Maj. Gaines him- 
self. 



21 



BECOMES SCOTX'S (iUIDE AND INTEK- 
I'KETEK. 

About a wenk after my esca[)e, Gen. 
Pierce came up from the coast with re- 
inforcements, and the array, now num- 
bering some 10,000 men, resumed its 
adv^ance on the city of Mexico. Gen. 
Scott's guide to Puebla had Ijeen a 
wealthy American merchant named 
llarrigose, long a resident of Vera Cruz, 
and he had also been of great service as 
a hnancial agent, the army being almost 
destitute of funds. I had been acquaint- 
ed with him for many years, and almost 
his tirst remark when he met me at 
Puebla was : "Smith, I had rather see 
you than any other man ; you must take 
this armj- into Mexico.'" I was more 
than willing to return to the city. My 
family were there, and all my pr»';erty, 
and 1 had full faith that the oliv viueriean 
grit would carry the ar«ny to linal 
vi(!tory. 

So it came that I was attached to Gen. 
Scott's staff as guide and interpreter. I 
rode with him all the way. Every mile 
of the route was familiar ground to me. 
I selected the camping places, and in- 
variably accompanied the officer of the 
day in posting guards and pickets. 

At length we reached the summit of 
the pass of the Cordilleras, about 40 
miles from the city. I knew there was 
a point not far from the I'oad from which 
the city could be seen ; and after making 
a preliminary reconnoisance. I told Gen. 
Scott if he would ride with me I would 
show him something he had been looking 
for. Then we rode out together, and I 
introduced him to the city of Mexico. 
The officers of the staff* were called, and 
all took a good look at the far-away 



22 

objective point of the campaign, to reacli 
which was yet to cost so many lives antl 
so much hard fighting. 

Then Gen. Scott wanted me to see if I 
could find a tree spotted by Humboldt as 
probably marking the highest point of 
the pass of the Cordilleras. We found a 
scrub oak which had the appearance of 
having been spotted, but whether or not 
it was the Humboldt tree we had no 
means of determining. 

That night we struck the valley at the 
foot of the mountains, and encamped 
Avithin about four miles of the advanced 
pickets of the Mexican army. Col. 
Sumner with his dragoons drove in those 
pickets and occupied their position Here 
we first began to have trouble with 
guerrillas, and one of our reconnoitering 
parties lost their horses. 

LEADS A FORAGING EXPEDITION. 

In the morning the quartermaster antl 
commissary generals came to me with 
the information that thej^ were out of 
forage for the animals and meat for tlie 
troops, and wanted me to help them. I 
told them there was plenty of forage in 
the valley, antl if they would give me a 
competent escort I would bring it in. 
But when they suggested "The Forty 
Thieves" as an escort, I demurred. The 
"Thieves" were a gang of cutthroats re- 
leased from prisons at Puebla, who had 
joined our army as spies. Their leader's 
name was Chatto Dominguez, and he 
was a noted bandit. J. told the officers the 
country was full of Mexican troops, and 
1 didn't care to go out to be assassinated 
— if they would give me Harney's 
dragoons I vyould go, but not otherwise. 
At that moment Gen. Scott stepped up 
and inquired what was wanting. When 
the situation was explained he exclaim- 



23 

ed : "My God ! I don't want you assassin- 
ated ; you shull have what you want;" 
and said I should have Sumner's drag- 
oons. He further assented to my sug- 
gestions to add a couple of light batteries 
and a company or two of infantry to 
guard the pack train, which consisted of 
oOO mules. Sumner was ordered up and 
directed to escort me wherever I wished 
to go. The "Forty Thieves" were also 
added to the column, but I asked Sumner 
to place them under guard, or they 
would rob every jjoor man along the 
road. 

Having got my escort in order, we 
started for the hacienda of San Borke, 
about ten miles distant, the owner of 
which, Senor Aquilla, was an old ac- 
quaintance and friend of mine. We 
were not molested on the route, although 
at one point we saw a body of the en- 
emy's cavalry ride out from behind a 
hill a little off our route. Sumner was 
anxious for a fight — in fact, rather in- 
isted on having one — until I pointed 
out that they were not on our road, and 
suggcisted that we came out for forage 
and not to pick a quarrel with the Mex- 
icans. 

When we came near the house I 
noticed there were ladies there. Sumner 
ordei'ed a halt, and he and I rode up to 
the house. The first salutation we got 
was from the wife of the owner of the 
plantation, whom I had frequently met 
in the city. "Don Edouardo," she said, 
"I am not afraid of your troops, as you 
have American ofiicers with you." Our 
reputation for protecting private rights 
had gone up the country before us. I 
told her my errant. She sent for the 
"Administrator" (or overseer) of the 
estate, and I explained to him what I 



24 

wanted. He replied that he could not 
sell me a thing, for if he did it would 
])robably cost him his life. I replied 
that I should take it. and would give 
him an oi'der so that he could draw his 
money in Mexico. We had a little con- 
tidcntial talk, in which it was arranged 
that we should take what we wanted by 
force. His peons and laborers were 
collected together, and 1 addressed tliem 
with a good deal of voice and bluster, 
telling them if they refused to go It* 
work we would .shoot them on the spot. 
They thereui^on went diligently about 
the collecting of grain — barley. 

While we weie loading, an Intlian 
messenger came in from my old friend 
Colin, — who was lying a short distance 
away with his gang of guerrillas, — in- 
viting me to come out and take dinner 
with him. I sent back word that I was 
very busy jxist then ; but invited him to 
come in and take dinner with me — we 
would crack a bottle of wine together. 
and I would guarantee hnn protection. 
He didn't come. 

Besides the grain, we took about lUO 
head of cattle which we found grazing 
at the hacienda. I at lirst tried to buy 
them of the Administrator, but he said 
they belonged to the peons on the estate. 
The Alcalde (or Mayor) was summoned, 
but after talking with the people he re- 
ported that they would not sell anyway. 
Then I informed him that we must take 
them, but made arrangements with the 
Admistvator to accompany us to camp» 
where the cattle were apparised and the 
money given him to distribute among 
the people. The "Forty Thieves" were 
sent to herd the cattle and drive them 
into camp. 



THE ADVANCE TOWAKD THE CITY. 

The following day our jjickets wei-c 
advanced to the town of Ayotia, on tlie 
east side of Lake Chalco, and on the 
main road to the city of xMexico ; and 
also to the town ot Clialco, more to the 
west, upon a road leading from Ayotia 
down into the "hot country." The Mex- 
icans were exi)ecting that Scott's advance 
upon the city would be made by the 
main road, leading up the east side of 
the lake in a general northerly and 
westerl} course from Ayotia. and made 
their arrangeruents accordingly. Power- 
ful fortilications had been erected at El 
Penou— about ten miles from Ayotia 
and an ei|ual distance from the city — an 
attack upon which it was confidently ex- 
l)ected would result disastrously to our 
army. But Scott determined if possible 
to move upon the city by another route- 
to pass around the lake to the left and 
reach the city from the west instead of 
the east. This route was considered by 
the IMexicans as absolutely impractiable 
for tlie movement of an army. (ien. 
Scott consulted me in regard to it, and I 
told him there was an old cinidemned 
road leading fruni <'lialcM iulo the \-allev 
on tile west side uf liic city. I had tVc- 
»]uently i)assed over it on horseback, but 
had my doubts whether it could be 
made passable for wagons and artilhny. 
It was a very bad road, leading througli 
and across ravines, and over pedregal or 
beds of lava, which made very loose, 
bad footing. It came into the valley at 
St Augustine, about ten miles from the 
city. I was sent out with a reconnoiter- 
ing party of sappers and miners, and 
they decided that the road could be made 
passible and went to work to clear it. 
The Mexicans had their eyes on the 



20 

party, of course, tind rolled boulder? 
down from the mountains,but they did no 
harm except to make a little more work. 

A CRITICAL POSITION AT ST. AUGUSTINE. 

The second day after this reconnoisance 
— Twiojo-s havmg meanwhile advanced to 
Chalco — Worth passed him at that place 
and advanced over the newly opened 
road to St. Augustine. I was instructed 
by Gen. Scott to accompany Worth, 
and to repoi't back to him (Scott) at 
Chalco that night. On arriving at St. 
Augustine I found the city filled with the 
first families of Mexico, who had come 
out there for safety, not dreaming of an 
advance in that dii'eetion. Very soon 
after arriving, I heard my name called 
from a house I was passing, and rec- 
ognized a Mrs. Loperana, who asked me 
to take quarters there for the protection 
of the family. I accepted an invitation 
to dinner, and when I reported there at 
the a2)pointed hour, found some ten'or a 
dozen ladies from the city, nearly all of 
whom I kneAV. They were evidently a 
little uneasy in their minds, but I told 
them to i)iforni their friends there was 
nothing to fear, and no one would be 
molested and no houses entered. Then 
one of the young ladies — childisli and 
thoughtless, — rolled out a piece of in- 
formation that sent the blood tingling 
into my lingers' ends: "Don Edouardo, 
you had better stop here with us ; Santa 
Anna is at San Antonio with 2(),00() 
men." Her mother adroitly turned her 
conversation into another channel, but I 
felt I had information M'hich it was of 
the utmost importance Worth should 
know at once. San Antonio was only 
four miles away, and it was evident 
Santa Anna had divined or discovered 
Scott's movement and had moved his 



army to meet it. So, very soon, I ex- 
cused myself, with a promise to sleep 
there that night, and started posthaste 
for Worth's headquai'ters. On ray way 
I met a Spaniard who knew me. He 
wanted to talk business, and said if I 
would secure him a beef contract he 
would give me valuable information. I 
promised to do all I could for him, 
whereui)on he conlirmed the report I had 
just heard, — tiiat Santa Anna had moved 
his army around on tlie other side of the 
lake from us and was again between us 
and tlie city. From him I got some idea 
as to the disposition of Santa Anna's 
f(n-ces and of liis defences. Also — what 
was of personal interest to myself — that 
tlie road between VVortli and Twiggs had 
been covered with guerrillas so tliere 
could be no counnunication — and 1 under 
orders to I'cturn and re[)ort. 

J gave Worth the information 1 had 
picked up. and lie at once wrote a dis- 
patch to Scolt. Calling C'halto Domin- 
gucz, of the '^Foi'ty Thieves," I gave 
him the dispatch and told him to take it 
to Scott. lie left, but returned in about 
an hour and said it was impossible to get 
tlH'oui!;h — the road was full of guerrillas. 
I told him he must take that dispatch 
through if he considered liis head worth 
saving — lie must take a road further to 
the left and get through anyway. So 
again he went out with his gang, and by 
making a wide detour was able to reacli 
Scott about midnight. 

As I afterwards learned from Maj. 
Gaiiuis, Scott had heavy patrols out to 
meet me, and until the arrival of Domin- 
guez was in great excitement, fearing I 
had been killed. "My God." he exclaim- 
ed, "if I have sacrificed poor Smith I 
shall never forgive myself." 



On receivin.o- tlio dispatch he immed- 
iately started on a night march to rein- 
force Worth, and about sunrise Twiggs' 
advance entei-ed San Augustine. 

CONTRERAS. 

A day or two were now spent in re- 
coiinoitering the positions of the enemy, 
which were covered by an immense peil- 
regal, very ditticult of passage, extend- 
ing from the mountains clear down to 
San Antonio. The road to the city of 
Mexico led from San Augustine, to the 
right, through San Antonio; but there 
w-is a bridle path leading across the ped- 
regal to the left into a village called San 
Angelo, just beyond the fortilied camps 
of Contreras — the distance from San 
Augustine to Contreras being about 
seven miles. This latter place was the 
right of Santa Anna's position, and was 
held by a very heavy force under Gen. 
Valencia. I was perfectly familiar with 
almost every foot of tliis territory, und 
was called by Gen. Scott to explain it 
with great minuteness, lie decided' to 
make his main advance across the ped- 
regal by this path. The movement was 
one of great dilticulty, but resulted in 
the carrying of Contreras by Gen. Per- 
sifer Smith's brigade. His attack was 
made very early in the morning, tiie 
troops making a night march over a 
route which 1 had mapped out as practi- 
cable. 

After the capture of Contreras tlie 
Mexican force— or what there was left 
of it — retreated to Cherubusco, avillage a 
short distance to the east, on the road to 
Mexico. Some three or four thousand 
prisoners were taken and put into the 
Convent of Santa Catarina, between 
Contreras and Cherubusco. 

During the lighting Gen. Scott and 



20 

stafriuul followed to within iibout a iiiiU; 
of Contreras, aiul wlieii the Mexicans re- 
treated, he followed down the road with 
the pursuit. Arriving at the convent he 
directed me to go in. give the Mexican 
officers his compliments, and tell them 
he would put on a competent guard and 
parole them as soon as possible. I found 
quite a number of general officers in the 
crowd, and all were in a state of great 
excitement, for our troops were swarm- 
ing around the building and they feared 
for their lives. I gave them Gen. Scott's 
assurance that the}' were safe, and that 
the troops were for their protection ; and 
with a toucii of irony further assured 
them that tliey would not meet the fate 
of Fanning's men, who were butchered 
after they had surrendered. 

1 also told them that if they woulil 
write their names on a sheet of paper I 
would send it into the city for the re- 
lief of their families. While they were 
doing this, I found among the prisoners 
an old servant of mine, and asked him 
"how the devil he came there." He said 
he came out to see the fun, and got 
caught. I told him if he would carry in 
the list of names 1 would send him. He 
assented, and I had him mounted on a 
Mexican dragoon horse and sent off with 
the list. I also charged him to see my 
wife, and bring me out a pair of boots, 
as mine had been ruined in the sharp 
pedregal the night before. He executed 
his mission faithfully, and turned up at 
headquarters the next morning with the 
boots and a most welcome note from my 
wife. 

INTERVIEW W^ITII GEX. PIERCE. 

When I came out of the convent Gen. 
I'ierce's division was just passing. I had 
had a glance at the General as he came 



30 

into Puebla, but until tiiis time had no 
opportunity to speak to iiina. So now I 
rode up to liim and asiied liim if lie was 
not Gen Pierce I'rom New Hampshire. 
He replied that lie was ; whereupon I re- 
marked that he was the first New Hamp- 
shire man I had met for many years, and 
that his father and mine were in the leg- 
lature together several sessions. He in- 
quired what part of New Hampshire I 
was from, and I answered, "Gilmanton." 
He stopped, looked at me a moment, and 
inquired, "Are you Noah E. Smith ?" and 
when I answered that I was, he said he 
had i^ledged himself to my family 
that he would find me if I was in the 
Republic ot Mexico. 

The Genernl was riding witli one foot 
out of the stirrup, and I learned that his 
horse had fallen on liim in tlie petirogal 
the night before, inliicting a very i)ani- 
ful sjjrain and Ijruise. After a brief con- 
versation, he invited me to ride on with 
him, but 1 replied that I was under 
orders to return to (jlen. Scott, touched 
spurs to my horse and road away. 

liATTLE OF CIIKKUBUSCO 

When I rejoined Gen. Scott the buttle 
of Cherubusco was at its height. It was 
a life and death sti'uggle. and the mus- 
ketry was simply terrific. The old con- 
vent of (yherubusco was the central point . 
Worth was attacking in front, and in the 
rear of the convent was a big open corn- 
field. I saw no smoke in that direction, 
and riding to an Judian village near by 
1 asked some of the women if they lunl 
seen any battery or any troops in the 
cornfield. They assured me tliey was 
nothing of that kind there, and I rode 
back to Scott with my information. The 
General's nerves were evidently on a 
high tension. "^ly God," he said, "I 



31 



have so many irons in tlie tire some oi' 
them will burn. Mr. Smith, I thank you 
for your information." 

lie soon sent me to direct Gen. Pierce 
and his brigade to and through this 
same cornfield, and to I'emain and guide 
him to position. As the brigade tiled 
past Scott, he rode up to Pierce and said : 
"Pierce, my dear fellow, you ought to 
be in your quarters — 3'ou can put but 
one foot in the stirrup.'' Pierce replied, 
'•I have one foot in the stirrup — for God's 
sake don't give the order. General ! This 
is probably the last great battle we shall 
have in the Valley, and I want to lead 
my comnuind." 

Scott then changed his orders to me so 
far as to direct '.-apt. Robert E. Lee. of 
Ins staft', to go in with the brigade ind 
stay with it, and rei)ort back to head- 
quarters thr(High me. We reached the 
cornfield and as we advanced through it 
Pierce deployed a company as skir- 
mishers, with orders as soon as they had 
drawn the fire to fall back into line. 
They found no battery, but at last, after 
they had proceeded perhaps three- 
quarters ol: a mile, were met by a sharp 
musketry fire and fell back The brigade 
soon got to work, when Lee told me to 
report to (ien. Scott what we iiad found. 
The idea caine into my head that I want- 
ed to stay where 1 was, and said to Lee : 
"This is my fight and I want to stop 
here. All my friends are in the convent, 
and I want to be in at the death." The 
convent, we were aware, was manned in 
part by several companies of voiunteei's 
from the first families of the city. I had 
many very dear friends among theni' 
and wanted to be there to help them 
when the convent was t;'ken, as it look- 
ed to me it must be speed'^y. 



Lee romarked with a tone of authority : 
"Go instantly — you are worth more to 
Gen. Scott to-day than any man of his 
army. Tell Gen. Scott we have got 
them, but if there are anj- reinforce- 
ments to spare we would like them." 

I rej^orted as directed. A few days 
before, while at Chalco, the bummers, 
gamblers and camp followers, about 100 
in number, had been formed into a pro- 
A'isional company, and placed under com- 
mand of Maj. McKinstry, one of the 
quartermasters. This company was or- 
dered in as a reinforcement. They seem- 
ed very reluctant to go, but McKinstry 
ke2)t them in hand, and I guided them to 
position. Several men were shot, but 
they reached the hues and were set to 
work. 

Then Lee directed me again to report 
lo Scott, that we were advancincr, init 
the men were falling very fast under a 
cross-lire of musketry, and if he could 
send any more reinforcements, they 
were very much needed. Scott told mc 
to go to the commander of a regiment of 
lifles — the last reserves — and take them 
in to Pierce's support. I did as dii'cctcd, 
but before tJicy were faii'ly in acfimi the 
.M(!\icans strui-k their colors on the con- 
vent and the foitross was ours. 

The fugitives from this fight were 
chased clear to the (Jity of Mexico by 
our dragoons, and it was in this jjursuit 
that Phil. Kearney lost his arm. 

THE '-ST. PATUICK LEGION" OF UE.SEU- 
TEllS. 

After the battle Scott and his staff rode 
into the convent yard. There we found 
the men of the St. Patrick Legion herd- 
eil together in one corner. These fel- 
lows were all deserters from our army, 
who had been formed into a battalion in 



33 

the Mexican service. Thej' were being 
identified, one by one, by our men ; and 
I heard, over and over again, such re- 
marks as, "This man deserted from my 
company." One of these prisoners took 
a very philosophical yiew of the situa- 
tion : "Well, they can't shoot me — I was 
drummed out at Vera Cruz and stamped 
'D' " — "Dead, damned and discharged," 
as the sailors interpret it. Knowing it 
was sure death to be taken, this Legion 
had made a most desperate defence of 
their position, and had even put a guard 
upon their colors to prevent their being 
lowered. They were tried for desertion 
during the armistice which followed. 
Harney hail tlie care of them, and was 
charged with their execution. There 
were about 70 of tiiem ; and if I recol- 
lect aright, a jxirt were hung one morn- 
ing and the remainder the next — the last 
scjuad while the assault was being made 
on Chapultepec. They stood in wagons, 
under a long beam. Harney told them 
Avhen the JNIexican Hag went down on 
Chapultepec they would go too— and 
tliey did. 

CONCEKNING THE ARMISTICE. 

The army advanced near to the City of 
Mexico, when an armistice was entered 
into. This was proposed by Santa Anna, 
and was simply a Mexican trick to gain 
time to strengthen their position. I knew 
it was from the beginning, and told 
Scott that what Trist, the American Com- 
missioner, did was simply time lost. 
Trist, who was present, said : "You don't 
have a very high opinion of Mexicans." 
"No," I said, "You will never have a 
peace until you have made it inside the 
walls of the city. I probably know 
Mexicans as well as you do." Scott and 
Trist did not hitch horses at all, and the 



General said to the Commissioner : 
"Smitli hasn't made a mistake since he 
joined us at Puebla." The armistice was 
signed, however, in an Indian hut on the 
field of Cherubusc). 

IIEAUQUAKTEKS ESTABLISHED AT TACL- 
UAYA. 

Just alter this event, some p]n^lish- 
men invited me to dinner at a summer 
club-house near the battletield. 1 went 
there with a first-class appetite, but was 
hardly seated at the table when an order- 
ly came with orders for me to report to 
Gen. Scott instantly. I gulped down a 
few mouthfuls, swallowed a glass of 
sherry, and started. I found that Scott 
was to make his head(]uarters at the vil- 
lage of Tacubaya, and 1 was to guide the 
advance under Gen. Harney — Scott fol- 
lowing the column in. i made inquiries 
of the natives along the route, who told 
me Mexican cavalry had been there in the 
morning, but had left. Meantime Capt. 
Lee had reconnoitered the ground near 
the village and found it unoccupied. 

1 escorted Gen. Scott to the Bishop's 
Palace. This was within point blank 
range and in full sight of the Castle of 
Chapulte2:)ec, which was occupied by the 
Mexicans; and when the General, step- 
ping to a window, discovered this fact, 
he seemed somewhat surprised and said : 
"Well, Smith, you have given me a con- 
spicuous place for the enemy." The 
General inquired concernmg dinner, and 
I had one sent to him from a French 
restaurant. It was a most elaborate af- 
fair and so was the bill, which amount- 
ed to $100. Scott raved and swore about 
the price, but I told the caterer to keep 
quiet and it would be paid. Then at a 
convenient moment I explained to the 
General that the price was not so extrav- 



agant consideriug that supplies were 
veiy dear just then, and that the fellow 
had made a great spread for a big man ; 
and Scott came down gracefully and 
paid the bill 

My next business was to secure less 
conspicuous quarters for the Com- 
mander-in-Chief, and I was successful in 
securing a furnished house into which 
Scotl at once removed. 

HOW BUEAD AND UEEF WEKE SECURED. 

One of the conditions of the armistice 
was that supplies for our army were to 
be drawn from the City of Mexico. I 
said to Trist, "I will eat everything the 
train hauls out of the city, except paving 
stones ; if I don't you may hang me to 
the tirst lamp post you come to." Trist 
thought he knew more about it than I 
did ; but when a train was sent in for 
provisions, the Greasers pelted it with 
stones from the tops of the houses and 
drove it out before it had secured an 
ounce of food. Then the Quartermas- 
ter and (,'ommissary Generals called 
me and wanted to know if there were 
any supplies they could get. I told them 
to wait an hour while I reconnoitered. 
With a sergeant and ten men for escort, 
I started for four large flouring mills in 
the vicinity. On my way I met the Ad- 
ministrator, and inquired if he had any 
flour on hand. He answered that he had 
not, but that the mills were full of wheat, 
I bargained with him to take whatever 
we wanted, be it more or less, at the 
rate of $7 per cargo — a cargo being 5 
bush. 1 peck. I then asked if that was 
not his price after it was gi'ound, and he 
said it was, but he could not ffrind it, as 
he had orders to that effect from Santa 
Anna, which it miglit cost him his life to 
disobev. Uis workmen lived in the vil- 



lage. bat I cinikl not persuade him to 
muster them for work. So I went back 
to our Quartermaster and told him what 
I had found, and together we went to 
Gen . Scott for an order to take possession 
of the mills and put them in operation. 
An Older was drawn, addressed to the 
Administrator, saying in substance, that 
if he did not set the mills in opei'ation 
we would take possession, put in our 
own men, and blow the mills up when 
we got through. I made a translation 
in Spanish on the back of the document 
and presented it to the Administrator. 
When he had I'ead it I said : "Now you 
put your men to work and I will make 
you a handsome present. Get your mill- 
ers here and I will arrange with them.'' 
The men were summoned and came, but 
obstinately refused to go to work, not- 
withstanding 1 assured them double pay. 
Persuasion failing, I took them to the 
door, showed them the strong guard 
which had meantime been posted, and 
told them they must go to work aod keep 
the mil's running night and day. They 
were prisoners for the time and couhl 
not go out, but their wives would be 
permitted to bring them food. There- 
upon they reconsidered their determina- 
tion and went to work and the army was 
assured of plenty of liour. Our- teamsters 
also came for wheat for their horses, 
with a result that some 50 horses died 
that night from over feeding. 

Having plenty of flour, I next looked 
around to see about getting it made into 
bread. I went to a French baker and in- 
quired concerning the capacity of his 
ovens, but found he could not supply the 
army by running night and day. He 
said he knew of three other ovens which 
he had been trying to hire, but could not. 



37 

1 told him to eoiiie with me and I would 
put him ill possession, and from these 
mills and these ovens om' army was sup- 
plied with bread until it left Mexico. 

Next for meat ! Having information 
that an Alderman of the city, named 
Floris and living at Tacubaya. had a 
large herd of cattle a few leagues back 
from the village, I paid him a visit. 
He was violently indignant at my 
proposition to buy his herd — said he 
••didn't feed the enemies of his country, 
and 1 couldn't have a pound of beef." 
1 reported at headquarters, and was 
given a competent escort and instruc- 
tions to bring the cattle in. I also took 
-to peons to do the herding, and in a few 
hours there was plenty of beef in our 
camp. When Floris heard of this he 
was furious ; went to Gen. Scott and 
said I had robbed him. Scott asked if I 
had not offered to pay him, and on 
Flcn-is acknowledging that such was the 
fact, responded : "He did right. Our 
armv is not going to starve. We will 
see you paid." 

Only a few minutes after this inter- 
view I met Floris on the street, and told 
him if he would send some men to ap- 
praise the cattle I would pay him — but 
only on one condition : that he would 
send in corn and beans for the Mexican 
prisoners in our hands. He said: "Do 
you intend to make us support the 
prisoners you have taken ?" and I told 
him. Yes — we had no pi-o visions to 
spare, and the prisoners must not starve. 
He was as mad a man as I ever saw, 
but after some savage talk he agreed to 
my proposition, and supplied the prison- 
ers with corn and beans by sending in a 
pack train from his plantation. I kept 
that a secret for a few days, but hnally 



.i8 

told the (^uarttirmaster liovv Fluris was 
supplying his own men. Then Scott 
got hold of it, but only laughed and said 
that was an application of a new rule of 
war. 

FUNDS FOK THE AKMY. 

Next the Commissafy came to me with 
the information that he was entirely 
destitute of funds, and asked if I coulil 
get some money for him. The sum he 
wanted was $2U,00U. I had already 
drawn every dollar I had on deposit in 
the city ; but I tuld tne (,'ommissary an 
English merchant — Mr. Hickson — would 
be out that afternoon, whom I woultl 
consult in regard to the matter. I called 
on Hickson, stated our wants, and told 
him we would give him a Commissary' s 
sight draft on New York. He retlected 
a moment, and then said: •'! will let 
you have $40,000." 1 went back to the 
('ommissary to see whether he would 
take that sum, and he consented. Hick- 
son brought out a portion of the money 
in a carriage thilt afternoon ; and after 
that we had plenty of money from 
English houses on the same order. 

VISITS HIS FAMILY IN THE CITY. 

Being so near my home and family, I 
was exceedingly anxious to see them, 
and at last determined to avail myself of 
one of the tei-mes of the armistice, which 
provided that the expelled Americans 
should be allowed to return to the city 
and resume their business. Commission- 
ers and others were constantly passing 
between the city and camps, and at 
length I asked Gen. Scott for a passport 
into the city, which was given me. A 
young Mexican officer of my acquaint- 
ance rode into the city with me, and I 
went directly to my own house, where I 



89 

remained one night, when friends came 
and advised me to leave the city, as there 
was great excitement among the Mexi- 
cans at my pi-esence, and I was en- 
dangering not only myself but my 
family. I went at once for a i^assport 
to go out, and sent my name into the 
office ; but 1 observed that wJiile others 
came, got their papers, and departed, I 
was kept waiting. At last I spoke to 
the clerk about it. and he replied that I 
would probably have to wait some time 
before I got mine. Meantime some 
French and German friends clustered 
about me and told me to get away as 
soon as I could, for the Mexicans were 
threatening to assassinate me. I took 
their advice — walked down to the door 
very calmly— stepped into m> carriage, 
and started, not directly for my home 
but on a circuit about the city. I saw 
plenty of evidence of the violation of the 
armistice by the Mexicans, who were 
erecting fortitications and barricades- 
some new ones since I came in. During 
tills ride I wrote a note to Gen. Scott, 
telling him what was going on ; also of 
my own predicament, and that I did not 
consider my life worth a penny. I sent 
this letter out by a trusty friend, then 
went back to ray home. About two 
hours after my return a Mexican sergeant 
came with a letter for me. The porter 
told him I was not in, but he would take 
the letter. I found it was my passport 
to Tacubaya. Scott, on receiving my 
letter, had immediately sent a messenger 
to the Mexican authorities with word 
that if I was not returned, unharmed, 
within a certain time he would sack the 
city. 

1 lost no time in mounting my horse 
and tinding the young officer who had 



40 

accompauied ine in. He said he would 
ride with me, and we galloped to the 
"Gavita Belen," one of the city gates. 
I presented my passport, but the guard 
refused to recognize it. They had been 
instructed not to let me out, even on a 
passport, for fe-ir I mio^ht forge one. 
My young friend now rode up and had a 
conversation with the guard, — probably 
instructing him that the passport was 
genuine, for I was allowed to proceed, 
and glad enough to be out of the toils. 

THE ARMISTICE BROKE V. 

On my arrival at Tacubaya I im- 
mediately presented myself to Gen. 
Scott, and told him what had happened 
to myself. Also, that troops were con- 
stantly arriving and barricades were be- 
ing erected in the streets. Hajjpening 
to cast my eye up to the Castle of 
Chapultepec, 1 saw hundreds of 2)eons, 
in plain sight, lugging sand bags on 
their backs to strengthen fortifications ; 
and calling Scott to the window I direct- 
ed his attention to the work gomg on in 
his very face. 

That night Gen. Scott dispatched Capt. 
Williams with a flag of truce to give 
notice that the armistice was ended. I 
accompanied him as guide and inter- 
preter. When we reached the Mexican 
picket we v^^ere hailed with the usual 
challenge. I replied in Spanish : '-Flag 
of truce, with dispatches for General 
Santa Anna !" The sentry responded 
that we could not pass. I asked him to 
call the officer of the guard, and soon 
Col. Boustermante, with whom I was 
personally acquainted, came up". I in- 
troduced him to Capt. Williams, and 
told our business. He reiDlied there 
were positive orders that no flag of truce 



41 

should pass that night — he would take 
oui- dispatches and deliver them to Santa 
Anna within twenty minutes, but no flag 
could pass. After consultation with 
Williams, he gave his dispatches to 
Boustermante. and we returned after 
the usual compliment of smoking one 
of the Colonel's cigars. 

HOSTILITIES RESUMED. 

The next morning our people attacked 
the Molino del Rey, and it was a desper- 
ate tight. While the attack was being 
made, Chapnltepec opened on our troops 
at point-blank range, and matters looked 
decidedly blue. Scott sent me to Gen. 
Pillow, who was lying at a hacienda 
about three miles below, with directions 
to send up a bi'igade under my guidance. 
Pillow dispatched Pierce with his 
brigade, but when they arrived Worth 
had carried Molino del Rey ; and present- 
ly Chapultepec stopped all except an 
occasional shot. But our people were 
busy for a long time in picking up and 
caring for the wounded, of which there 
was a terrible list. 

A few days after, Chapultepec was 
carried by storm. I was with Gen. 
Scott and staff when our flag went up 
on the castle, and Scott at on(!e started 
up the hill on which it was situated. As 
we passed through a gate of the fortress 
I saw Gen. Bravo, commander of the 
castle, standing near by. I called Scott's 
attention to him two or three times, but 
the General was so excited he did not 
hear me. But when we arrived at the 
building on the summit I agaii. told 
Scott we had passed Bravo at the gate. 
"But why didn't you tell me?" he said. 
I responded that I did, but he did not 
hear me. Then he told me to carry his 
comoliments to Gen. Bravo and tell him 



^2 

he would be glad to see him at the castle. 
I returned, found Bravo, and delivered 
my message ; offering him my horse to 
ride up. which he declined. But he 
went immediately to the castle, where I 
introduced him to Gen. Scott, with whom 
he had some minutes' conversation in i-e- 
gai'd to the disposition of the captui'ed 
garrison. 

By night our troi:)ps had captured two 
of the gates and were inside the walls of 
the city of Mexico Before morning a 
commission came out with the intelli- 
gence that Siuta Anna had evacuated, 
and turning the city over to 
Gen. Scott. 

INTO THE "HALLS OK THE MONTE- 
ZUMAS." 

The first thing I knew the followina: 
morning the General's orderly was 
shaking me to awake me. He told me 
to mount and report as quick as my 
horse would carry me. In a few min- 
utes I saluted the General, whom I found 
in full uniform, cocked hat and all. lie 
was in grand spirits, and told me he 
wanted nie to show him inlo the city of 
Mexico. I was given position at the 
head of fifty dragoons with instructions 
to keep fifty paces in advance and to 
measure my distance well. Scott enter- 
ed the city by the gate of San ('osme, 
and as instructed I led the column 
through the principal streets to the 
Palace, over which the American flag 
was already floating. It was a proud 
day for me when in this manner I enter- 
ed the citj' from which a few weeks be- 
fore I had been driven into exile 

A REIGN OF TEKKOH REPRESSED. 

After showing the (xeneral to Santa 
Anna's suite of rooms, I asked per- 
mission to go to my own house and 



43 

breakfast with my iaraily. He assented, 
but told me to take an orderly so he 
would know where to find me if wanted. 
Major Gaines and the orderly rode down 
with me. When we entered the second 
street from the Palace, the first saluta- 
tion we got was a volley of musketry 
from the tops of houses on each side. I 
turned and started for the Palace ; but 
Gaines, despite my calls, dashed down 
the street towards my house, which he 
reached in safety. I soon met one of 
our infantry patrols, and told them to 
be careful about exposing themselves 
in the cross street, as the Mexicans were 
raking it from the tops of houses. The 
officer said he would like to get a look at 
them, and I told him he could be ac- 
commodated. I went to the corner 
house and rapped on the big oak door. 
A servant girl opened the wicket, and I 
told her to open the door. She said she 
could not, as she was all alone. I told 
her slie should not be harmed, but we 
were coming in if we had to break down 
the door. After some more talk she 
opened the door, and the patrol entered 
and started for the top of the house. [ 
stopped a few minutes, when three or 
four Greasers came tumbling down into 
the street M'ith a bullet or bayonet 
wound in each, and then I pulled for the 
Palace to report to Gen. Scott what was 
going on. 

Meantime shooting of some nature 
was going on all over the city. It was 
for a time the worst day I ever saw. 
The clergy had let all the criminals 
loose from the jails and prisons, armed 
them, and stationed them in church 
towers and on house tops. They cal- 
culated that our people would become 
demoralized and scattered, when Santa 



u 

Anna, who was lying at tlie strong 
fovtitication of Gaudaloupe, four miles 
out of the city, could dash in and gobble 
us up. 

I reported at headquarters what had 
happened. Even then straggling shots 
were coming into the Palace windows, 
from the Cathedral towers, which were 
full of sharpshooters. I made the re- 
mark to some of the officers that I wished 
I M'as commander of the army foi- fifteen 
minutes. Scott heard it, turned, and 
inquired: -'What did you say? What 
would you do?" 1 said: "I beg your 
pardon. General ; but if I was in com- 
mand I would notify the Mayor t(j stop 
this liring in one iionr or I would blow 
up the Cathedral and sack the city.'' He 
thought a few moments, then asked if I 
knew who the Mayor was. I told him I 
did — Genei'al Bouello — a friend of mine. 
He asked me if I would take a dispatch 
to him, and 1 gladiv undertook the 
mission. 

The substance of the dispatch was 
that our troops were tliere on invitation 
of the city authorities to protect life and 
property, but the Mexicans were acting 
in bad faith ; and if the tiring was not 
stopped at once the <Jathedral would be 
blown up and the city sacked. 

I took the dispatch to Gen. IJonello 
and handed it to him while he passed me 
a cigar. After reading it he looked up 
in a surprised manner and inquired : 
■'What does he mean?" I then ex- 
plained what was going on, and called 
his attention to the booming of cannon, 
with which our people had already com- 
menced to throw shells into the 
Cathedral towers. He made the remark : 
"This is all the work of those cursed 
friars !" and hardly an hour had ex- 



45 

pired before the tiring entirely ceased. 
That afternoon Santa Anna took up his 
line of march for I'uebla. 

LAST DAY IN MEXICO. 

After this my duties were confined to 
supplying the army with provisions My 
operations covered all parts of the valley 
of Mexico One expedition went down 
to the English mines at Rio del Norte, 
seventy miles from the city. Scott 
wanted me to go with his force, but I 
begged off in behalf of my family. I 
found quarters for troops, and quartered 
many officers with private families. The 
upper-class JNlexicans took a great fancy 
to our regular army offi.cers, and were 
glad to have one in the family as a pro- 
tection. They treated them with the 
greatest hospitality, and our men left 
fine reputations in Mexico as honorable 
gentlemen. 

Ii came in my way, and I took a 
personal reyenge on old Eznoriza, who 
had attempted to drive me out ot my 
building the first of the Texan war ; for 
it was on my recommendation that his 
fine establishment was taken for quarters 
for our dragoons. 

In these duties I kept busy until the 
first train started for Vera Cruz and the 
United States. With it I sent my family 
— wife and two children — in the special 
charge of Maj. Gaines and other friends 
who were returning to the States. I 
bade good bye to the wife I was never to 
' see again, for in time there came a 
letter from Maj. Gaines, conveying: the 
awful intelligence that she had died of 
coast fever before reaching New 
Orleans. My children he had taken to 
his home in Kentucky. 

Dazed and crushed, I went at once to 
Gen. Scott's headquarters and told him I 



4() 

wanted to leave by the next train foi' tlie 
coast, which was goin^ in about two 
days. "By all means,'' said the Gen- 
eral, and gave orders for the Com- 
missary and Quartermaster to have my 
accounts ready for adjustment in, season 
for me to get away. They put on a 
heavy force of clerks, and the work was 
tlone in good jseason. 

The night before 1 left, the Prior of 
San Augustine — in whose building my 
place of business had been located so 
many years — sent word that he would 
call with a carriage next morning and 
drive mo out as far as El Penon. Me 
eame with his coach in state, drawn by a 
pair of Yankee horses. At El Peuon 
we ate together a most elegant dinner, 
with all the accompaniments, which he 
had bi'ought out in the carriage. Then, 
with tears in his eyes, he bade me fare- 
well, gave me his ble^^slng, and I joined 
the train which had followed us from 
the city. 

Coming out with this train was Lieut. 
Thomas J. VVhipjjle. but I did not know 
him then. Maj. Caldwell of Kentucky, 
was in command, and on his request 1 
acted as quartermaster until we reached 
the coast, and ^. sailed away from the 
land where so many eventful years of 
my life had been spent. 

CALIFORNIA EXPEKIENCE.S. 

Such is the story of Smith's Mexican 
experiences as taken from his own lips. 
He had not been long at home in New 
Hampshire when the exciiement attend- 
ing- the dii^covery of gold m California 
aroused again his spirit of enterprise and 
adventure. Parties in New Yovk who 
had been connected with the Mexican 
business were organizing an expedition 
to the Land of Cold, and Smith joined the 



47 

company. A 700 ton vessel was pur- 
chased and loaded down with goods 
suitable for the California trade. With 
wise foresight they ad ed to the cai'go 
the materials for a building to be used as 
a store, all framed, jointed, and ready to 
be put together, shelves and all. 

A false deck w^as built, giving quarters 
for 50 passengers, who were readily 
secured ; but Smith with Bensley, one 
of the uartners, took passage on the 
steamer Oi'egon, which sailed from New 
York under the command of Lieut, (now 
Admiral) 1). D. Porter. 

"AROUND THE HOKN." 

The route was around South America, 
thi'ough the Straits of Magellan, and the 
Oregon was said to be the tirst steamer 
to take this route 

When the ship was well out to sea 
Porter assembled the passengers and 
made a little speech, telling them they 
had a long voyage before them, and 
suggesting that they organize various 
sports and amusements to while away 
the time. A mock court was organized, 
over which Smith presided, and thereby 
acquired the title of "Judge," which 
clung to him among his acquaintances 
during his stay in California. With a 
Turkish cap on his head, and a big pipe 
hung to his side as a badge of office, he 
presided at many a trial with becoming 
dignity. Four youn^ lawyers from New 
York struggled for the mastery with 
learned quotations of law and precedent, 
and witnesses were uniformly sworn up- 
on the backgammon board. 

The vessel called at Valparaiso for 
coal, also at other ports. Continuing up 
the western coast, at Panama, Lieut. 
Porter turned the command over to 
another captain and returned home 



48 

across the isthmus. Here they took 
aboard between 200 and 300 men who 
were there awaiting transportation. Ex- 
tra births were put up for this crowd 
and the vessel again put to sea. They 
had been out but two or three days when 
the new accessions began to show their 
spirit in an unpleasant way. A large 
propoition were among the roughest of 
New Or'eans roughs, and it seemed that 
they had determhied to take possession 
of the ship and run it in their own way. 
They insisted upon crowding to table, 
and occupying state rooms with the cabin 
passeno^ei's, and defied all discipline and 
authority. 

In this emergency the new captain h<^Jd 
a consultation with Smith, as a result of 
which the 80 original passengers from 
New York armed themselves to tlie 
teeth and prei)ared to stand by tlie 
captain and assert their own rights. 
Then Smith, from a conspicuous position 
in the rigging harrangued the crowd, 
telling them their rights and that they 
could not expect more than they had 
paid for. He read the law in regard to ' 
mutmy, and told them there were 80 
men who would stand by the captain and 
who would tolerate no further inter- 
ference with their own rights. 

Then a rattling fellow who was fa- 
miliarly known as "Mustang," and who 
looked every inch a fighter, followed in 
the same sti*ain, and fiu'tber assured the 
ruffians that if they didn't quiet down 
the ship would be declared in mutiny 
and would put back into port. This 
bold front scared the roughs, and there 
was no further trouble on the voyage. 

SACRAMENTO IN EARLY DAYS. 

Sacramento was at that time but a 
map of a city, on low ground. The firm 



49 

of "Smith, Beusley oi Co." ut once 
bouglit a choiee'lot on "J" street, at its 
most elevated ]>oiul, paying $5000 foi" a 
plat of 80 by 160 feet. 48 hours after 
the arrival of their vessel and goods, 
their ready-made store — 40 x 38 feet — 
was up and in operation, being the first 
trame building erected in the city. The 
line of business was groceries and 
general merchandise. 

The city was laid out at the confluence 
of the North and Sacramento I'ivers, and 
Smith heard a report that the ground 
was sometimes entirely ovei'flowed. An 
old Indian who came in said he had fre- 
quently seen it so, and taking Smith to a 
button wood tree he pointed out the high 
water mark thereon. Upon taking a 
level Smith saw that his own lot was two 
feet below that mark, so he had button- 
wood posts set for his building with 
their tops three feet above . high water. 
Speculators who had bought atljacent lots 
complained that his building was set so 
high it would hurt the sale of other lots ; 
but Smith told them he bought from the 
earth to the heavens and should occupy 
as far as he wanted to. The wisdom of 
this course was soon demonstrated, for 
a flood came, and while everybody else 
was afloat the store of Smith, Bensley & 
Co. was above the reach of the waters. 

SMITH AS "judge" AND POLITICIAN. 

In the provisional city government 
which was put in operation, Smith was 
named as one of the Council. The title 
of "judge" had followed him from the 
ship, and doubtless created an im- 
pression that he had earned the title by 
wearing the judicial ermine in the east. 
The administration of justice was sum- 
mary at those times, and not hedged 
about by the formalities considered in- 



dis^jensible in the older sections of the 
country. Still Smith was a little non- 
plused when a fellow was brought be- 
fore him, one day, to be tried on a 
charge of stealing a pair of oxen . He 
told those having the culprit in charge 
that he was no judge — that it was only a 
mock title as applied to him — but it was 
insisted that he was a good enough 
judge for that case, and he tried it. The 
fellow was sentenced to pay a fine, and 
given 48 hours to get out of town, under 
penalty of 48 lashes for every day he 
was lound there after the expiration of 
that limit. The "judge" subsequently 
sat on other cases, and doubtless ad- 
ministered justice in each with the same 
impartial hand. 

The election ap))roached in which tlie 
lieojjle were to vote on the question 
whether California should l)e a fi'ee or 
a slave state, and on the same day city 
otRccrs were-to be elected for Sacra- 
mento. Smith's standing on the com- 
munity was shown in the unusual com- 
pliment of a nomination by both i artie.s 
for the position of Mayor. These 
honors were de<jlined, ns he had made 
arrangements to go to San Francisco and 
take charge of a branch house his firm 
had established there. He went to San 
Francisco, but returned to Sacramento 
on election day and cast his vote for a 
free constitution. 

RETURNS, SICK, TO NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

About this time he was suddenly 
taken down with a violent attack of 
chills and fever, and Dr. Hammond, 
Post Surgeon at Sacramento, told him 
to start for home if he did not want to 
go up the hill into "Sutter's pasture" — 
i. e., the grave yard. It was too good 
advice to be disregarded, and he was oft' 



on the tirst boat, so weak that he had to 
be helped aljoard. 

Our sick hero felt much better when 
he ship steamed away for Panama. 
Arriving at the mouth of the river lead- 
ing up to the citj' of Granada, in (Jentral 
America, the ship was anchored, and the 
captain insisted that Smith, being the 
only one on board who spoke Spanish, 
should go up to the city for provisions. 
A mattress was placed in a boat, covered 
in with an awnmg. and with these con- 
veniences and comforts arranged for 
his use, Smith undertook the trip. It 
was several hours row up to the city, 
against the current of a tropical river, 
and about midnight Smith landed at the 
pier and went knocking around araimg 
tiie houses tiying to rouse somebodj- 
who would give him admittance and 
shelter. He was rebuffed from several 
places, until at last an old woman who 
stuck her head out of a window was 
attracted by Smith's remark that he was 
from (California. -'.My," said she. "I 
have a son in San Francisco." "Yes," 
rejoined Smith; "I know him, and a fine 
boy he is." This ruse was a success. 
He was admitted at once, and the best 
cot in the house — a bullshide stretched 
on poles — was brought for him to rest 
upon. The next day he collected the 
needed pi'ovisions and forwarded them 
to the ship ; but he suffered sevei'ely for* 
this excursion, the chills coming on 
again worse than ever oefore. 

When he landed at Panama he was so 
weak that the trees seemed to be dancing 
before his eyes, and in this condition he 
mounted a white mule and started with 
the cavalcade across the Isthmus. Two 
friends — Capls. Flint, of Texas, and 
Perkins, of Salem, Mass. — said they 



52 

would not leave iiim, but advised him to 
go back. He was headed tor home, 
however, and determined to persevere 
to the end. They reached the Chagres 
river, running east to the Atlantic, 
whei'e they exchanged their mules for 
"dug-outs," and at night were at a 
little Indian village about half way on 
their I'oute from sea to sea. Here they 
met the New York passengers on their 
way out, who had taken possession of 
every available hut in the village. The 
two captains made a thorough recon- 
noisance, and at last found a thatched 
shed, which consisted simply of four 
posts with a roof of flags. Four or five 
hogs had possession of one end, and the 
travellers took the other. The two 
captains suggested "snakes !" but Smith 
reminded them that snakes and hogs did 
not herd together ; and making beds on 
bundles of flags they passed the night 
with as much comfort as the situation 
allowed. 

The next morning Smith was on board 
the New York steamer, and was happy. 
He began to gain at once, and when he 
got to Newr York was in good condition 
to continue to his own home in New 
Hampshire. 

MAIL AGENT UNDER FIERCE. 

In politics Smith was a stanch Dem- 
ocrat. Even his intimate relations with 
Gen. Scott and his unbounded .admira- 
tion for that officer did not divert him 
from the support of Gen. Pierce in the 
presidential canvass of 1852 ; and when 
Pierce entered upon his duties as Presi- 
dent he appointed Smith to the re- 
sponsible position in connection with the 
mail service to the Pacihc coast. Most, 
if not all, of the mail for Califoi'nia at 
that time went by the isthmus route, and 



o3 

Smith's duties led him repeatedly to 
Aspinwall, and occasionally to San 
Francisco. After a service of some 
three or four years he resigned and re- 
turned to his home in Gilmanton. 

PENSIONED BY GOVERNMENT.. 

The later years of his life were spent 
with his daughter — Mi's. Munsey — at 
Laconia. There the writer of this 
sketch made his acquaintance. In his 
old age he had come to poor tinancial 
circum stances, and one of the pleasures 
of his biographer's life came in an 
opportunity to aid in securing for the 
old gentleman the government recogni- 
tion he had so richly eai*ned. In the 
48th Congress a bill was introduced to 
grant him a pension, which passed the 
House at the almost unprecedented rate 
of $76 a month. With but few excep- 
tions this was the largest pensi»n ever 
gi'antfcd by Congress. The Senate Com- 
mittee reduced the rate to $50, but the 
reduction was ably opposed by Senators 
Blair and Pike upon the floor of the 
Senate, with so good success that the 
Senate rejected its committee's amend- 
ment, and the bill became a law at the 
origina. sum. Among the papers pve- 
sented to Congress were letters from 
various officers who served in Mexico, 
which may be of interest hei'e as show- 
ing the appreciation of his services held 
by those, such as were still living, who 
knew them best : 
Louisville, Ky., February 12, 1883. 

Dear Friend : I have just received 
your letter and one to Capt. (ieorge P. 
Smith, which I forward to him to Pendle- 
ton Station, P. O., Henry County, 
Kentucky, where he lives. It has been 
a long time, but my recollections of you 
and your conduct are hallowed by pleas- 
ing, grateful memories of your kindness 



:a 



lu the Encarnacion prisDiiers at the city 
of Mexico, in 1847. J well I'eeollect 
that your sudden expulsion froii the 
city was upon an order from the war 
department to leave within twenty-four 
hours ; that you left your family, wife 
and children, your liver}' stable — a large 
one well stockeil with horses, carriages, 
and other property suitable to that 
business ; that you came back to the 
city with the army commanded by 
General Scott. T was not with you on 
the march from Puebla to the capital, 
but my information was that after your 
expulsion and joining Scott at Puebla 
that, you acted as his guide and inter- 
preter, and that your employment in 
these capacities was continued long after 
our departure (the Encarnacion prison- 
ers) from the city on the 1st November, 
1847 — perhaps to the close of the war. 
I recollect your calling to see me at 
Louisville the next spring — I think, 
about the latter part (^f May, about the 
tmie i)eace was made — on your way to 
join your children in the East, your wife 
having died crossing the Gulf; that yon 
told me your connection ill the Govern- 
ment service had recently terminated. 
You loaned us money, clothed us when 
we were in rags, and fed us wiien we 
were hungry. Your devotion and 
loyalty to the United States Government, 
its cause, officers, and soldiers was of 
the highest character, and CoUj^ress 
should unhesitatingly indemnify all 
your losses and richly compensate your 
valuable services. 

Yours, truly, 
WM. J. MEADY. 
Mk. Noah E. Smith, Laconia, N. H. 

Pendleton, Ky., February 25, 1883. 

My Dear Sir : Your letter of the 4th 
instant did not reach me until Saturday, 
2od, and now I reply, hoping what I 
have to say may be of service to you in 
whatever ett'ort you ay make for re- 
muneration for your larg'e service rend- 
ered General Scott and the army under 
him durins: his occupancy of the citj- of 
Mexico. To begin with, I have a per- 
fect recollection of you and your untir- 
intj efforts to relieve the sutferin": of mv- 



self and other fellow-prisoners while 
incarcerated in the St. Jago prison or* 
near the city of Mexico. It was doubt- 
less through your instrumentality that 
the prisoners were jilaced on parole 
after several months of prison life in the 
loathsome prison above named. It was 
you more than any American citizen 
then resident of the city of Mexico that 
contributed in having us placed on 
parole, and then having the entire 
liberty of the city, to walk the streets of 
tlic same witlu)ut molestation, and to 
have our prison lifcj changed to one of 
the best hotels of the city 

I feel, sir, that it was you and through 
you that this change in our favor was 
bnnight about, and that but for your 
etforts for the amelioration of our suffer- 
ing in prison wc might have remained 
thei'e till released by General Scott and 
his army on their entrance into the city. 
We were allowed for our support. 1 
think. $3 per week by those who had 
control of us, a sum far below the 
amount necessary for an economical 
support. This deficiency was readily 
and cheerfully supplied by your liberal 
hand. 

llow often, when you were looking 
after your daily business, did the parole 
prisoners bless Noah Smith for his mani- 
fest interest in our behalf, you will 
never know. Without limit 3'our purse 
was ever open to extend such relief as 
our real or imaginary wants suggested. 
Those many acts of your kindness to 
me, now stricken in years, I can never, 
never forget. I have sat at your table 
and have partaken of your hospitalities, 
and when leaving the city of Mexico, 
the 1st of November, 1847, so tearful 
were you that your wife would meet 
with insult and abuse fi'om the INIexicans 
after the withdrawal ot our army, you 
intrusted her to our care to visit her 
native State ; but, sad to think of it 
now. at these long intervening years, 
she died before reaching New Orleans, 
and the ex-prisoners. I reckon without 
an exception, followed her remains to 
iheir place of interment in that city. 

Many times have I, with other prison- 
ers, sat at your livery stable, at or near 



56 

San Augustine convent, and there talked 
about your business, which seemed, 
before the taking of the aitj by the 
American Army, to be in a very 2Jrosper- 
ous condition. 1 learned while there, 
not from you but from others, that you 
had amassed a good furtune, and I 
know it was so regarded by all of my 
fellow-pi'isoners. I know and 1 shall 
never forget the order banisning you 
from the city ot Mexico, and vvhat con- 
sternation was produced in the hearts 
and minds of resident Americans ; but a 
fear for the safety of Iielpless prisoners 
pervaded the minds of all people of 
other countries then in the city. I would 
undertake to say that the services you 
rendei'ed (General Scott as guide, inter- 
preter, &c., could not be reckoned or 
estimated by dollars and cents, and 
while Congresj, thus far, has failed to 
vote a dollar toward the support of 
Mexican veterans in their decdining 
years, I trust tliey will take up your 
cnise and act upon it without delay and 
gladden your heart by making such 
liberal allowances as will secure to you 
and yours a competency for the re- 
mainder of vour 3'ears here on earth 

GEORGE T. SMITH, 
Late Captain and Assistant Quarter- 
tnaster. United States Army. 

Noah E. Smith, Laconia, N. H. 

P. S. — I am now in my seventy- 
second year, with a broken hip from a 
fall on the ice four years ago. I go on 
crutches, and am not in very good health. 
Do write to me and tell me all about 
yourself. 

New Orleans, Ax>ril 20, 188o. 
Dear Sir: Your favor of the loth 
instant has been received. I remember 
you well, and your valuable services in 
Mexico during the year 1847. You 
joined us at Puebla, in August or 
September of that year, just before our 
march to the Valley of M. Y''ou were at 
once attached to General Scott's staff as 
interpreter and guide, ami by your 
thorough knowledge of the country and 
its language you were of great service 
to the (Jorps of Engineers in procuring a 
map of the city of Mexico, and giving 



o7 



siK-h iiiformatiou as we needed to facili- 
tate ouv advance. You were noted also 
for your courage and zeal. While in 
that city, before joining us, you were of 
assistance to the American prisoners 
there, and you were instrumental, we 
were afterwards informed, in getting 
some of our officers in the city paroled 
by the Mexican authorities. 

In conclusion, I know no one in civil 
life who took a part in that campaign 
better entitled to the kind consideration 
of the United States (iovex'nment. 

I am yours, very truly, 

G. T. BEAUREGARD. 
Mk. Noah E. Smith, 

Laconia, N. H. 

November 14, 1882. 

Deak Sir : 1 have received your 
second letter about Noah E. Smith, esq., 
who indeed rendered such important 
services to the American prisoners of 
war in the city of Mexico. (Jolonel 
Smith was no doubt a bold, generous 
and patriotic gentleman, and risked al 
propert} and life for our cause, and 
deserves well of his country, and should 
have a pension by all means from the 
United States. Since you mention his 
deeds more particularly I recall and 
identify him, and will do anything I can 
that is honorable to commend him to the 
good offices of Congress and the National 
Government. Please give my kind 
regards to the Colonel, and believe 
me, 

Truly yours, 

CM. CLAY. 

Col. T. J. Whipple, Laconia. 

"OVER the river." 

Col. Smith lived but about thi'ee years 
to enjoy tbe substantial I'ecognition made 
bv the Government. He had passed the 
allotted age of man, and the infirmities 
of years pressed upon him with constanth' 
increasing powei's, until on the eleventh 
day of April, 1887, he met the grim 
destroyer. Death, with the same heroic 
fortitude he had, forty years before, 
displayed upon the plains of Mexico. 



58 

The record of Noaii E. Smith's life 
and services is with its compiler a, labor 
of love and admiration, and is . made 
with the sole purpose that the story of 
one of New Hampshire's most notable 
and noble sons may not die with him 
and be forgotten. The author only asks 
that it be indulgently received as a 
simple sketch of events too valuable to 
be lost, with no claims to literary finish 
or excellence. 







^ 



